The Osceola times., 1887-10-08

/ AiShvoches naNe sources OF in
formation more secret and sure than
those of the municipal police. Nothing
escapes them, and it is a common
thing for pickpoekets in London and
New York to notify confederates In
farls OF the arrival of good sub
Jects for the exercise of their
art. As . general thing. all
the pickpockots of the north
the English. Russians. Poles. and
Iermans-arc cold, methodical, auda-
cious, and persistent They rarely
abandon the victim they have determ-
med to despoil. The German is an ex-
cellent tner a resbrOufe, very old
kind Of robbery, consisting in violently
running against person and proiiting
from his confusion by picking his pock-
cts He seldom frequcnts the races or
crowded stores, but may be seen at the
banks, where he watches persons that
draw money and sees into which
pocket they put it. The Germans also
excel in the roiau raiin, which consists
IN proiiting from the momentary mat
tention of a cashier to make of with his
money.
"Ihe Italian pickpocket knows his
extreme cleverness. Heis conscious of
his superiority, and he laughs at every
European police force. He boldly re-
peats his robberies at the same locality
although aware that complaints have
awakened the attention Of the police.
Fnli OF confidence in his art, and enicy-
ing his triumphs, he ends, however, BY
falling into their hands. If he had the
prudence of the English pckpocket he
could defy all detectives of the uni
verse. He is the artist of pickpockets,
but, yielding to his southern ardor. he
is caught by his obstinate presence in
the same crowd. He never abandons n
favorite place until he has stolen all
that he can possibly steal. In an inter-
national reunion of pickpockcts he
would be unanimously chosen presi-
dent. When he has thrown his eye on
a pocket, his address deics all compe-
ton. BY movement so natural that
1t escapes notice he feels of a pocket,
weighs a purse, and appropriatcs it
with the greatest dcxterity. When en-
gagged at his work he often purposely
eXctes the attention Of his victim by a
slight and apparently accidental touch,
which permits him TO present his eN-
cuses in most amiable and gracious
manner, In point of dextcrity the
SpaAiard is his rival. He operates un-
ostentatiously, with suppleness aud
lightness of hand, but his movements are
not stamped with that charming grace
the secret of which the Italian alone
possesses.
"The pickpocket never wears glove
on his right hand, and to conceal his
movements he frequently carries Il
light overcoat on HE left arm. In
winter an overcoat on the arm would
excite suspicion, and hcnce he carries
then a large handkerchief. which he
pretends TO unfold to put around his
neck. At churches, balls, cafes, thea
ters, the hat takes the place of the
overcoat and handkerchief In the
slang of these malefactors, he who
takes the purse is called the main
(hanD. The aids are called aoRnes.
They are the pupils, the accomplices,
The must place themselves between le
main and the crowd for the further Sc
curity of the former. 1t is their busi-
ness to look out for the detectives and
to dispose of the victim in the way most
convenient for te Diaia-whethor by
clbowing and jostling him more or less
vigorously or by attracting his atton-
ton from the operator. The latter, in
order to conceal his right hand, raises
his ieft arm, on which rests his over
coat. so that the ovcrcoat covers the
pocket that he intends TO explore.
What precautions. what delcaey aud
lightness of touch he must employ, 10
come of successfully! Two fingers
only are introduced into the pocket
Lightly they raise the pockot-boob,
which for an instant is held suspended
So that its owner shall not feel the
sudden tightening of his pocket AT
this moment the nonHe. who is behind,
pushes the victim slightly, when the
latter, turning about, ceases to see aud
to feel what is going on. If the sum
to he stolen is large, the pickpocket
often maneuyers long time with his
victim. lie quits him, finds him again,
and never abandons him until he has
got his money, unless, his eagorness
overcoming his ordinary prudence. he
is detected. In this case the RORneS
come TO his aid and cndeaycr to get
him of before the arrival of the
police. in which effort they usually
succeed An experienced detective
is not satisfied with arresting the
mai.l; he wants the aceomplices. This
is why the main passes the stolen
articles TO the first H0RHo, who passes
them TO the second, and so on to the
last of the band. This action is doubly
advantageous 10 the main. Surprised
by his victim, he has nothing on him,
and that permits him to protest his in
nocence with vehement Indignation. If
the main is arrested by an inexpcri-
enccd agent of police, his protestations
are usually successful. for nothing
compromising is found on his person,
and the agent is afraid of making Il
mistake"
IN -. ,.tLo,;as ~ the lind